I can't decide which digital SLR to get. I want to spend around $500, I think. So...Nikon D40 or Canon Rebel? I am headed to B&H on Monday during my lunch hour...
Location: Im standin at the crossroads, tryin to read the signs, to tell me which way I should go to find the answer.
Posts: 18,276
well...i shoot nikon. i shot canon for 15+ years with film before i jumped ship to go to nikon for digital. i decided based upon the feel in my hand. the d50 (at the time) felt right. the xt (at the time) did not.
that said...the nikon d40/d40x/d60 are truly consumer cameras...that's fine...but know the limitations first. meaning, with the retirement of the d50, nikon took the focus motor out of the camera body on their consumer line and put it in the lenses. the d80 has an internal focus motor and is still an active model but probably not for long bc it's been out a while.
what does this mean in practical use? you have to stick to a limited range of $$$ lenses for those cameras. my d50 and d300 can share lenses. had a i d40, that would not be the case. the d40/d40x/d60 line requires lenses which have their own focus motors.
it's been frustrating for many who purchased a d40/d40x and then found they wanted, say, the prime 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 lenses. those lenses won't autofocus on those cameras (although they will on the d50, d70, d80, d100, d200 and d300.) it is my opinion that nikon did this to differentiate the consumer market from the serious amateur/pro market. a lot of people have bought dslrs and "gone into business" shooting auto and i think that's caused the change for nikon. just my own opinion though.
make sense?
i can only speak to nikon's line, not canon's...i think the d30 and above on the canon line are fabulous cameras. the xt/xti, etc feel small in my hand (which is why i got the d50 when i switched from film to digital.)
I have the d40, and I have a 50mm prime lens. It's taken some getting used to, especially at the 1.4 end, but I can focus it pretty quickly now - even with moving kids. It still meters, and there's a little green light in the bottom left corner of the viewfinder that lets me know it's in focus. Manual focusing also allows me to focus on something other than one of the 3 focal points as well (the green dot won't light up though).
Nikon is also making more lenses that will AF with the D40 and D60. The zoom (55-200 w/vibration reduction) I just bought was only $300. Same price as my prime. It's not as clear of a lens, but not crappy in any sense either. It's really going to depend on what you want to use the camera for, if the D40 will fit your needs.
__________________
Allison mama to:
DH (lol), Chrissy 15, Mikhail 12, Kiera 10, Kivett 8, Aislinn 6, Alannah 3, and fresh from the oven Kian Oliver-Bell 11/15/07
Everything Tracey said. I have the D50 and do love it, though I hope to upgrade. But I am really so glad that I got the D50 before they were discontinued.
__________________
Mommy to five little earthlings and a baby in heaven.
Linear Mode
